“That works out nicely,” Tyler said with a smile. “I heard you recently opened your ownw firm. It’d be great bto /bconnect and maybe stay in touch. Last time we met, it was a bit rushed. I didn’t get the chance to get your number.”

It was a reasonable request, and Charlotte had no reason to refuse. They moved in the same social circles, and it wasn’t unusual to exchange contact information.

“Sure,” she said.

After they exchanged contacts and Charlotte slipped her phone back into her purse, Tyler suddenly asked, “Miss Riley, bif /byou don’t mind me asking… is your friend Lena Zeller single?”

Charlotte blinked, caught off guard.

That was a pretty abrupt change of topic.

“She is,” she replied.

Tyler visibly rxed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Charlotte gave him a suspicious look. “Do you like her or something?”

“I actually met her years ago, back when I was still in college,” Tyler said, his tone softening. “I was over at Ian’s ce, and she had juste home from school. Honestly, I liked her from the moment I saw her. But she was still in high school back then, SO I kept it to myself.”

Charlotte was a little stunned. “Love at first sight?”

S

“You could call it that,” Tyler replied. “But I never told her how I felt. She was too young, and I didn’t think it would be appropriate. I left the country not long after. Now that I’m back and she’s still single, I’d like to try pursuing her.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “I couldn’t tell you liked her at all during that dinner.”

Tyler gave a smallugh. “It’s been years since Ist saw her. I might’ve looked calm on the outside, but I was actually really nervous.b” /b

“Does she know you’re interested?”

“No. I wasn’t sure if she was seeing anyone. And judging by ourst meeting, I don’t think she remembers me at all. I didn’t want toe on too strong, so I figured I’d get to know her first and see where things go.”

Charlotte looked down thoughtfully.

Tyler noticed her hesitation. b“/bbIs /bsomething wrong?”

She looked up at him. b“/bThis might sound intrusive, but since I’m one of her closest friends, I need to ask, Tyler, h rtionships have you had? And how many of them got… physical

Tyler froze.

It was an incredibly personal question, and honestly a bit out of line.

any

Charlotte exined calmly, “Lena has never dated anyone before she’spletely new to rtionships. If you’ve had a long history or aplicated pastb, /bbI /bjust don’t think you’re bthe /bright person for her.”

Tyler frowned slightly but answered, “I understand. But I’in not the kind of guy who ys around. Over the yearsb, /bI’ve only had bone /bserious rtionship.”

Charlotte’s expression tightened. “So you had feelings for Lena but still dated someone else?”

“You’re misunderstanding me,” Tyler said seriously. b“/bbI /bdid like her at bfirst/bb, /bbbut /bshe was still a kid bthen/bb, /bband /bwe bdidn’t /bstay bin /btouch. Eventuallyb, /bthat bfeeling /bbfaded/b. Later onb, /bbI /bmet someone else and we had a serious rtionshipb. /bbI /bwasn’t bthinking /bbabout /b

Lena while I was with her.”

He looked her straight in the eye. “Miss Riley, I don’t jump from one person to another. I take rtionships seriouslyb./bb” /b

Charlotte’s voice bwas /bcalm. b“/bI’m just asking. Whether she epts you or notb, /bthat’s entirely up to her.”